Boston Celtics: ranking Brad Stevens’ 3 best seasons as C’s head coach
By Mark Nilon
3) 2019 – 20 (Season Record: to be determined)
Prior to the season’s indefinite suspension on March 11th, Brad Stevens had these Boston Celtics sitting soundly within the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference standings. Through 64 games, the team had accumulated a record 43-21, ranking them third in the East, fifth in the entire association and, with their victory against the Indiana Pacers on March 10th, headed to their sixth straight postseason appearance.
For the 10th time in the past two decades the team saw two of their players — Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum — represent the franchise in the NBA All-Star game. They also saw Jaylen Brown narrowly miss out on an invite to the big game as well as Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart playing their best basketball that they have throughout their tenure with the team.
And, yes, while it takes the players to actually produce on the floor, it’s up to the coach to put forth a scheme in which they can thrive in. With what we know about the C’s head honcho it should come as no surprise that, under his guidance and game-planning, each of these aforementioned player is now recording career best or, in Hayward’s case, their best from their tenure with the franchise in box plus/ minus ratings.
After coming into the season with some serious roster shakeups — lost four core players from the season prior, including three regular starters — and, oft during the campaign having to deal with injuries that ravaged many in their current core Steves still managed to keep this crippling team afloat and heading toward yet another home-court advantaged early round matchup in the upcoming postseason.
By the time of the suspension, the C’s found themselves ranked within the top-10 of many statistical categories including blocks, steals & rebounds per game as well as the league’s fifth best Offensive Rating and fourth best Defensive Rating.
Brad Stevens’ tenure with the Boston Celtics has already proven him to be a great head coach and 2019-20, with all it’s hiccups and makeovers, has certainly not changed this perception.